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it cannot be enforced； but he says it is true as an abstract
principle in the organization of society as well as in organized
society and it should be kept in view as a fundamental principle。
Let me read a few words more before I add some comments of my own。
Mr。 Clay says； a little further on：
〃I desire no concealment of my opinions in regard to the institution
of slavery。 I look upon it as a great evil； and deeply lament that
we have derived it from the parental government and from our
ancestors。 I wish every slave in the United States was in the
country of his ancestors。 But here they are； and the question is；
How can they be best dealt with？ If a state of nature existed； and
we were about to lay the foundations of society； no man would be more
strongly opposed than I should be to incorporate the institution of
slavery amongst its elements。〃
Now； here in this same book； in this same speech； in this same
extract； brought forward to prove that Mr。 Clay held that the negro
was not included in the Declaration of Independence； is no such
statement on his part； but the declaration that it is a great
fundamental truth which should be constantly kept in view in the
organization of society and in societies already organized。 But if I
say a word about it； if I attempt； as Mr。 Clay said all good men
ought to do； to keep it in view； if； in this 〃organized society；〃 I
ask to have the public eye turned upon it； if I ask； in relation to
the organization of new Territories； that the public eye should be
turned upon it； forthwith I am vilified as you hear me to…day。 what
have I done that I have not the license of Henry Clay's illustrious
example here in doing？ Have I done aught that I have not his
authority for； while maintaining that in organizing new Territories
and societies this fundamental principle should be regarded； and in
organized society holding it up to the public view and recognizing
what he recognized as the great principle of free government？
And when this new principlethis new proposition that no human being
ever thought of three years agois brought forward； I combat it as
having an evil tendency； if not an evil design。 I combat it as
having a tendency to dehumanize the negro； to take away from him the
right of ever striving to be a man。 I combat it as being one of the
thousand things constantly done in these days to prepare the public
mind to make property； and nothing but property； of the negro in all
the States of this Union。
But there is a point that I wish； before leaving this part of the
discussion； to ask attention to。 I have read and I repeat the words
of Henry Clay：
〃I desire no concealment of my opinions in regard to the institution
of slavery。 I look upon it as a great evil； and deeply lament that
we have derived it from the parental government and from our
ancestors。 I wish every slave in the United States was in the
country of his ancestors。 But here they are； and the question is；
How can they be best dealt with？ If a state of nature existed； and
we were about to lay the foundations of society； no man would be more
strongly opposed than I should be to incorporate the institution of
slavery amongst its elements。〃
The principle upon which I have insisted in this canvass is in
relation to laying the foundations of new societies。 I have never
sought to apply these principles to the old States for the purpose of
abolishing slavery in those States。 It is nothing but a miserable
perversion of what I have said； to assume that I have declared
Missouri； or any other slave State； shall emancipate her slaves； I
have proposed no such thing。 But when Mr。 Clay says that in laying
the foundations of society in our Territories where it does not
exist； he would be opposed to the introduction of slavery as an
element； I insist that we have his warranthis licensefor
insisting upon the exclusion of that element which he declared in
such strong and emphatic language was most hurtful to him。
Judge Douglas has again referred to a Springfield speech in which I
said 〃a house divided against itself cannot stand。〃 The Judge has so
often made the entire quotation from that speech that I can make it
from memory。 I used this language：
〃We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was initiated with
the avowed object and confident promise of putting an end to the
slavery agitation。 Under the operation of this policy； that
agitation has not only not ceased； but has constantly augmented。 In
my opinion it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached
and passed。 'A house divided against itself cannot stand。' I believe
this government cannot endure permanently； half slave and half free。
I do not expect the house to fall； but I do expect it will cease to
be divided。 It will become all one thing； or all the other。 Either
the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it； and
place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in
the course of ultimate extinction； or its advocates will push it
forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States； old as
well as new； North as well as South。〃
That extract and the sentiments expressed in it have been extremely
offensive to Judge Douglas。 He has warred upon them as Satan wars
upon the Bible。 His perversions upon it are endless。 Here now are
my views upon it in brief：
I said we were now far into the fifth year since a policy was
initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an
end to the slavery agitation。 Is it not so？ When that Nebraska Bill
was brought forward four years ago last January； was it not for the
〃avowed object〃 of putting an end to the slavery agitation？ We were
to have no more agitation in Congress； it was all to be banished to
the Territories。 By the way； I will remark here that； as Judge
Douglas is very fond of complimenting Mr。 Crittenden in these days；
Mr。 Crittenden has said there was a falsehood in that whole business；
for there was no slavery agitation at that time to allay。 We were
for a little while quiet on the troublesome thing； and that very
allaying plaster of Judge Douglas's stirred it up again。 But was it
not understood or intimated with the 〃confident promise〃 of putting
an end to the slavery agitation？ Surely it was。 In every speech you
heard Judge Douglas make； until he got into this 〃imbroglio；〃 as they
call it； with the Administration about the Lecompton Constitution；
every speech on that Nebraska Bill was full of his felicitations that
we were just at the end of the slavery agitation。 The last tip of
the last joint of the old serpent's tail was just drawing out of
view。 But has it proved so？ I have asserted that under that policy
that agitation 〃has not only not ceased； but has constantly
augmented。〃 When was there ever a greater agitation in Congress than
last winter？ When was it as great in the country as to…day？
There was a collateral object in the introduction of that Nebraska
policy； which was to clothe the people of the Territories with a
superior degree of self…government； beyond what they had ever had
before。 The first object and the main one of conferring upon the
people a higher degree of 〃self…government〃 is a question of fact to
be determined by you in answer to a single question。 Have you ever
heard or known of a people anywhere on earth who had as little to do
as； in the first instance of its use； the people of Kansas had with
this same right of 〃self…government 〃？ In its main policy and in its
collateral object； it has been nothing but a living； creeping lie
from the time of its introduction till to…day。
I have intimated that I thought the agitation would not cease until a
crisis should have been reached and passed。 I have stated in what
way I thought it would be reached and passed。 I have said that it
might go one way or the other。 We might； by arresting the further
spread of it； and placing it where the fathers originally placed it；
put it where the public mind should rest in the belief that it was in
the course of ultimate extinction。 Thus the agitation may cease。 It
may be pushed forward until it shall become alike lawful in all the
States； old as well as new； North as well as South。 I have said； and
I repeat； my wish is that the further spread of it may be arrested；
and that it may be where the public mind shall rest in the belief
that it is in the course of ultimate extinctionI have expressed
that as my wish I entertain the opinion； upon evidence sufficient to
my mind； that the fathers of this government placed that institution
where the public mind did rest in the belief that it was in the
course of ultimate extinction。 Let me ask why they made provision
that the source of slaverythe African slave…tradeshould be cut
off at the end of twenty years？ Why did they make provision that in
a